This bill establishes new safety regulations in Louisiana for the transport and underground storage of carbon dioxide. It directly affects companies that build pipelines to move carbon dioxide or inject it into deep geological formations for sequestration. The law sets specific rules for how these facilities must be designed, constructed, operated, and monitored to prevent leaks and protect groundwater. Key requirements include detailed site planning, regular reporting, financial security to cover cleanup costs, and strict procedures for closing and maintaining sites after use. Additionally, the bill mandates public awareness efforts and emergency preparedness plans for facilities located near populated areas or waterways.
This bill requires operators of hazardous liquid pipelines in Louisiana to display their emergency contact information on all pipeline signage and line markers. Operators must certify annually that this contact information is accurate and that the provided telephone number is active and manned at all times. The legislation prohibits waivers of these requirements and establishes penalties for non-compliance, including existing fines under R.S. 30:705. These changes directly affect pipeline companies operating in the state and aim to improve emergency response capabilities.
This bill prohibits the placement of carbon dioxide sequestration pipelines in the same right-of-way as existing petroleum pipelines in Louisiana. The law directly affects pipeline operators and energy companies by requiring them to use separate corridors for transporting carbon dioxide for storage purposes. This restriction aims to keep carbon dioxide transport infrastructure distinct from petroleum infrastructure, though it does not prevent the use of existing pipelines for other purposes. The measure applies statewide and would require new planning and coordination for carbon capture and storage projects.
HB 419 limits civil liability for oil and gas companies regarding greenhouse gas emissions that comply with state and federal laws. It directly affects covered entities like oil producers, refiners, and pipeline operators by blocking lawsuits alleging contributions to climate change ("climate change claims"). Key provisions state these entities cannot be held liable for such claims if emissions follow applicable regulations, while preserving liability for personal injury, property damage, environmental violations, or gross negligence. The bill does not apply to carbon capture projects and explicitly aims to prevent courts from establishing climate policy instead of legislative or regulatory processes.
HB 877 prohibits carbon capture facilities in Louisiana from sharing pipelines for transporting carbon dioxide to storage sites. The bill directly affects carbon capture project operators and pipeline owners by requiring separate pipelines for each facility's CO2 transport. Its key provision, added to state law (R.S. 30:1116), explicitly bans owners of separate storage facilities from using the same pipeline for CO2 delivery. This creates a new regulatory requirement for pipeline infrastructure planning and construction. The bill aims to prevent shared pipeline usage, though it does not address pipeline safety standards or costs.
HB 504 authorizes Sabine Parish's governing authority (the Police Jury) to prohibit Class VI carbon dioxide injection wells, carbon dioxide sequestration projects, and pipelines transporting carbon dioxide within the parish. The bill gives Sabine Parish the power to block these projects through a local resolution or ordinance, overriding state permitting authority. It requires the parish to notify the state Department of Conservation and Energy of any prohibition and ensures such local decisions supersede conflicting state permits or approvals. This directly affects residents and developers in Sabine Parish by allowing the parish to decide whether carbon dioxide infrastructure can be built there.
HB 731 clarifies that pipeline operators in Louisiana cannot be held to "implied obligations" beyond what is explicitly written in their contracts with landowners. It defines key terms like "pipeline" (covering natural gas, oil, and other substances) and "pipeline operator," then states that standard property law duties for pipeline access rights do not apply unless specified in the contract. This directly affects landowners who may have relied on implied legal duties and pipeline companies seeking to limit their liability. The bill applies retroactively to all unresolved disputes, ensuring existing claims are governed by this contractual limitation.
HB 878 prohibits the permitting of carbon dioxide (CO2) storage beneath Louisiana's designated natural and scenic river systems. It directly affects carbon capture project developers seeking underground storage sites under these rivers, as the bill blocks permits for such operations. The key provision amends state law to explicitly ban geologic CO2 storage beneath rivers listed in the scenic river system designation (R.S. 56:1840 et al.), regardless of other legal provisions. This policy change prevents new carbon capture projects from using riverbeds as storage locations.
HB 7, the Louisiana Landowners Protection Act, prohibits private entities from using eminent domain (taking private property without consent) for carbon dioxide pipelines or underground storage projects. It directly affects landowners whose property might be sought for such infrastructure and private companies seeking to build CO2 pipelines or storage facilities. The bill removes existing expropriation authority for these purposes, defines "private entities" broadly to include corporations and partnerships, and eliminates the secretary of the Department of Energy and Conservation’s power to issue related certificates of public convenience. This replaces prior provisions allowing forced takings for CO2 projects with a clear ban on such actions without owner consent.
